Shadows and Doubts (sequel to Discovery)
By Lanie Trace (lindalee)
This is post Covenant fiction. Based on the Smallville series on WB. Characters created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Based on the Superman Characters originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Chapter 1Clark has almost recovered from his injuries. He is sitting in his loft. He has been very quiet and thoughtful. He gets up and walks down the stairs. He looks out at the morning as the sun comes up. "I will make a difference." Clark says out loud. "I will not become a menace."
"Who ever said you were?" a voice says. "I don't think you are a menace."
"Hey Clair. What are you doing here?" Clark smiles seeing a new friend and knowing he isn't so alone.
"I got up to run. How about you?" Clair smiles back.
"Just couldn't sleep. How are Chloe and her dad?" Clark asks tentatively.
"They are doing well. We will be moving them soon and putting them in witness protection. No choice, they need to be gone. Lionel has not recovered, but he will. He needs less targets and its best. She isn't taking the decision well. I am hoping a visit from you; well maybe it will help. I don't know." Clair confesses.
"I won't be able to be apart of her life. That just seems more painful than well you know. I'd rather still believe she was dead. Not know she's alive and I can't be in her life or be her friend." Somebody to stop me I sound like a ... his thoughts stop.
"It's okay. You will always remember her and she you." Clair says. "How are you?" Clark just looks at her. "You still haven't talked to your mother about the dreams and what you feel?" Clair muses.
"No. I'm still afraid of how it may hurt her. I just." Clark says.
"I think she will surprise you." Clair says. "She is a very strong and courageous woman. I feel she and my mother would have been such good friends."
"Do you miss your mother?" Clark asks with concern.
"Yes. I also feel her too." Clair answers. "I am going to run, watch the house for me."
"Sure thing." Clarks answers and walks over to what was once Lana's home. It now holds the Sullivan's and several FBI agents. "Good morning guys." He walks in with glances to all of the agents and finds Chloe sitting on the back porch step. "Hey, I've got a penny for your thoughts." Chloe looks up and smiles to him.
"I just need some space." Chloe says. "We don't do the emotional thing very well. Remember?"
"I know. Clair told me they've made a decision. I'm sorry too." Clark takes a seat next to her. "I think we should make the best of the time left. What do you say?"
Clair comes back from her run. "Hey. Uh. Jack wants you to call him." JB says greeting her at the door.
"What? I just talked to him." Clair is breathing hard and groaning.
"He said to call before your shower." JB continues.
"Great. Just Great. That means bad news." Clair sighs.
"I kind of figured that out." JB answers and opens the screen door. Clair walks in and goes directly to the phone and dials Jack's office number.
"Okay. No shower. What's up?" Clair snaps at the receiver. She listens. "Really. Why the change?" then there is a long pause. Clair suppresses her feelings. "Okay. We will be here." She turns and takes a deep breath and addresses the group. "Jack will be here this afternoon. There is a big change in plans."
"What change?" as a voice comes out of the kitchen. It's Gabe and he now sits in the wheelchair.
"Johnny, Please call the Kent farm. They need to come over." Clair asks and orders at the same time. "Let's get everyone here first." She walks by Gabe and touches his shoulder. "Clark. Chloe. Please come in."
"Something's up!" They look at each other.
"This ain't gonna be pretty." JB says.
"Nope. No way is this good." Johnny comments and reaches for the phone to call the Kent family. "No way."
Clark, Chloe, Gabe, Martha and Jonathan are all sitting in what was once Nell's living room. Now it's a FBI war room. "I know this will be shocking news to all. It may also be good news, pending on the point of view." Clair takes a deep breath. "There has been some activity in which the higher powers have determined it isn't feasible to put Chloe or Gabe in witness protection." She waits for the news to set in. "Also there is a possible press release that Chloe and Gabe are indeed alive." An audible grasp comes from the group. "So all the information we have now tells us it's a no go on the relocation." Clair finishes. The group looks at one another. Chloe looks to her dad, Clark, and then Martha and Jonathan. Chloe takes her own deep breath.
"What happened and what does this mean?" Chloe finally gets the reporter in her awake.
"Well, several things and Jack will be here to cover those details." Clair says. "I can't discuss it any further, not at liberty to do so at this time. Good news is we can all quit hiding and lying." Clair manages a weak smile. "You can still be you." Chloe looks up.
"That puts all of us at risk. Correct?" Jonathan says and asks. "I thought you had this handled, I mean things in place for this. I mean I couldn't tell anyone what was going on. I hated that. Now all that was for nothing."
"Not for nothing. Trust that much." Clair says. I really hate this. I wish I could understand. Please help me understand mother. " I will be with Chloe and Clark, passing as a new senior at the high school." All six of the FBI agents burst into laughter.
"Oh boy, we are going to have to train her." JB and Johnny say to each other through laughter. "Oh, it will never work."
"Enjoy guys. I am here to supervise Chloe and hopefully deter any further attempts. Someone new, the bad guys will be suspicious as well." Clair answers.
"Why?" Clark asks and looks at Clair. What is really going on?
"I wish I could say." Clair says. I'd tell you all if it were up to me. You will all know soon enough.
"Not at liberty, right." Chloe snaps satirically.
"Yeah. That's it." Clair answers.
"It's good and bad. I know I am not ready to give up this fight. Maybe if we hide in plain sight we can have a better life." Gabe looks at Chloe. "I want her to have a real life." He puts his hand on Chloe's.
"You passing as one of us." Clark says smiles and then laughs.
"Yep, that's going to be fun." Clair sighs.
"How?" Martha starts to ask. "How are you going to keep them safe?" My son. You could expose my son's secret.
"I knew this would be difficult for me and all of you. And I wish I could say the risks were gone. We all know that's not true. I would die for anyone here and I know that these 6 agents will do the same. That's all I can give you." Clair puts her hand on Martha's shoulder. I wish I had a time machine.
"Hey I'm ready for a fight." Gabe says.
"Good. Can I count on you to be the cheerleader for us? Clair asks.
"Where are my pom-poms? I can use those as a lethal weapon." Gabe jokes trying to help break the tension that all feel. The whole room rumbles with laughter.
"I will have some for you this afternoon." Clair says. "Now I need a shower."
"I knew I smelled something stinky." JB joins in the teasing and jokingly pinching his nose.
"Very funny." Clair says heading up the stairs. Clark follows quickly.
"I know there's more. What is it?" Clark asks. "Just a hint, Please." Please don't let it be about me.
"Just between us and no one else including parents and Chloe. Understood?" Clair says. I need to confess this please don't betray my trust.
"Completely." Clark says. It's bad.
"Four stars." Clair and at first Clark is puzzled then he remembers and shakes his head angrily. "Okay. Watch 'Nancy Drew' for me?"
"Yeah, not really. Sure, I can take care of her." Clark goes back down just as quick. I really don't like that man, no matter what my dad says. He's up to something.
Clark is at the bottom of the stairs. He looks up. Chloe is just standing by the kitchen wall. She looks like she'd rather be anywhere but here. Clark thinks and walks over to her. "Hey, Let's walk over to the 'Fortress'. What do you say?" Clark glances at Johnny and then to JB. Both nod and follow them at a discrete distance.
On the walk over Chloe says, "What happened? I mean I'm not buying the whole news leak. No way."
"I was waiting to hear that again. It's been a long time." Clark says and continues. "I have wanted to hear the reporter was back on the job." For that he gets a punch in the arm and mocks pain. "Ow! What was that for?" He jokes and grabs his arm. "You have been working out?"
"I have been here all along." Chloe says and smiles. "Been working out with Clair. She is a great archer, why archery I haven't figured it out just yet."
"She's different and Jack will tell us what going on." Clark answers. I made a promise. I'm nothing if I can't keep it.
"I hope so. I hope he doesn't keep secrets." Chloe says. "Like someone else I know." and love.
"I wish it was that's Lionel's dead, not just for us. But for Lex too." Chloe comments.
"Could not say any name that begins with the letter 'L'. Please." Clark asks.
"Sorry. I wish you'd tell me what happened. Someday?" Chloe asks and almost begs for the truth.
"Give me time." Clark says. My family would be so much better off if Lionel Luthor was dead and that is an awful thought, too. Clark shakes his head.
"Again. Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up such bad memories." Chloe says. I haven't given you a reason to trust me. But you would die for me. I know that. Someday I will earn it. Why is it that I feel so safe with you? Chloe pulls close to Clark, putting her face next to his shirt. It's soft and smells like fresh fabric softener. Not such a tough guy after all. Does your mom still do your laundry? I bet she does.
"Is that smoke?" Clarks says and Chloe pulls away.
"What? Where?" Chloe says.
"Coming from your ears." Clark smiles and teases her. "What are you thinking about 'Nancy Drew'?"
"None of your business. I have secrets, too." Chloe teases back. I wonder if I dare ask.
"You know, I will uncover all your secrets." Clark picks her up and starts swinging her around and around.
"Stop that." Chloe says and thinks. Only please don't stop holding me. "Put me down I'm getting dizzy."
Clark stops swinging her and gently sets her down. He keeps his arm around her.
"Okay. I just wanted to see that again." Clark comments and he smiles.
"What?" Chloe asks still beaming with a bright smile.
"That smile, from my best friend." Clarks says. They walk into the barn and up to the loft. JB and Johnny stay down in the barn area.